If you missed the Great American Eclipse of 2017, your chance to see another total solar eclipse is approaching: The next one happens in just three months on April 20, 2023.
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how much you love to travel, the best views of this eclipse will be from Indonesia, East Timor, and the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia. And that means one of the best ways to see the spectacle is on the water.
Where to watch the great solar eclipse from?
After its Australian solar eclipse cruise sold out, the science publication New Scientist chartered a second vessel to take visitors to see the show as part of its tour offerings. Rather than sail the coast of Australia, however, this one is sailing through Indonesia.
The 10-day voyage will be on the Ombak Putih, a traditional Indonesian sailing vessel known as a pinisi, which hails from the islands of Borneo and Sulawesi. For this expedition, just 22 guests will be hosted on board by two local expedition leaders. The star of the show will, of course, be the total solar eclipse — a phenomenon when the moon crosses between the Earth and the sun, blocking nearly all of the sun’s light across a swath of our planet for about 70 seconds. That day, guests will visit Maupora Atoll as their viewing location, and after the event, they’ll enjoy a barbecue party on the beach.
But the journey also includes cultural immersion and wildlife sightings across some of Indonesia’s eastern islands. In the town of Larantuka, guests will learn about the art of ikat, a fabric dyeing technique, by the local Lamaholot artisans. In Wuring, they’ll visit with the semi-nomadic Bajau, who build homes atop stilts on coral rocks. And in Sika, guests will attempt to spot docile dugongs, a relative of the manatee. Throughout the adventure will be opportunities to snorkel and swim — and perhaps even see dolphins, turtles, and pilot whales.
Rates for the 10-day itinerary are RM 32, 136 (USD 7,500) per person, and you can book the cruise here. And if you can’t swing this trip, don’t worry — there’s another eclipse happening much closer to home on April 8, 2024, across the United States, so get ready for a road trip.
This story first appeared on www.travelandleisure.com
Hero and Feature Image Credit: Courtesy of SeaTrek Sailing Adventures
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